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Canaan

What it’s about: There are strange goings on in Shanghai. People are falling ill to a mysterious and deadly virus and, with an upcoming anti-terrorist summit in the city, tensions are running high. The show follows three women, each with their own reasons for being there: Canaan, a Middle Eastern assassin and mercenary, Alphard, head of a rogue terrorist organisation, and Maria, a photo-journalist in search of a story.

Why you should watch it: It’s a tightly-written thriller with a decent grasp of how to create and use its action sequences. There’s enough mystery to keep you watching for the next episode, but it doesn’t drag it out beyond what it’s 13-episode length can afford. The characters are believable (even if their “superpowers” sometimes aren’t) and see a decent amount of character development as the series progresses. The animation quality is also above average for a series made half a decade ago.

Caveats: While it’s a very self-contained narrative, I think this is one story that would have benefited greatly from a little more breathing room.